Tea Chronicles Pt.8 – Berry-Leaf Tea

Berry-Leaf Tea

This tea comes from one of the most celebrated foraging books of all time, Euell Gibbons' "Stalking Wild Asparagus". This classic book first printed in 1962 is far, far more than an edible plants field guide. It is a witty, insightful book that teaches the reader about foraging through Gibbons' stories and exploits. Essential reading. Gibbons has dedicated a whole section to what he calls "Wildwood Teas" (lots of rich Tea Chronicles picking here) which is where we find his recipe for blackberry, raspberry and strawberry leaf tea .

“The leaves of these three familiar fruits have long been dried and used for tea and in home remedies. Gather the leaves while the plant is in flower and dry them as directed with other tea materials. One word of warning: be sure the leaves are thoroughly dry before you use them as tea for, as they wilt,they develop a poison which is driven off or altered in composition as the get thoroughly dry. There have been cases of livestock being poisoned by wilted berry leaves, but when these leaves are contained in fully dry, cured hay they cause no ill effects.

Berry-leaf Tea is probably the most effective home remedy for diarrhea but, aside from its medicinal uses, it is also a pleasant beverage and wholesome in reasonable quantities.It contains tannin (as does Oriental tea) and has a pleasant aroma; the flavor differs slightly according to which species is used but all of them make an acceptable substitute for tea.”

— Euell Gibbons - Stalking Wild Asparagus, 1962

I had only just read this chapter when I was invited to a friends house who's garden was overflowing with raspberry bushes. I tried to pick the greenest and freshest looking leaves. Once home I laid them out, on newspaper, in the sun on the kitchen table.

Raspberry Leaves Drying

I left them for a full two weeks to make sure they were completely dry (Gibbons' word of warning concerned me a little.) The colour was still really impressive even on the dried leaves. I steeped a half dozen crushed leaves in boiling water for about 10 minutes and gave it a try. I then added another 6 leaves and left it for 5 minutes more.

The tea was light, even after leaving to mash (steep) for a considerable time and adding additional leaves. I couldn't eek much flavor from it at all. The taste that I did get was a vegetal and slightly herbal flavor. There were some tannins. Not unpleasant, just not much of anything. I have read so much about berry leaf tea I can't help thinking I've done something wrong. I shall persevere with this one, so there may be an update to this post as soon as I can get hold of larger quantities or leaves. Does anyone have any tips for berry leaf tea?

Gibbons' book is, in my opinion, essential reading for anyone with even the slightest interest in foraging, botany, the outdoors or even for anyone that likes a good book. It is still in print and easy to find. I hope to be trying more of his recipes in soon.

Tips from the Archive #004

Dutch Oven Cooking Temperature

This one is a goody,  especially for the outdoor gourmet. It comes from Viv Moon's Outdoor cookbook. This is my go-to outdoor cookery guide. This particular tip is great for anyone trying to master the dutch oven.

Tip 004 – Dutch Oven Temperature

“There are various methods around that some camp cooks use to judge how hot the camp oven is, the old, but tried paper testing method being a fairly good gauge.

Paper Test–put a piece of paper such as brown paper bag (not newspaper) inside your preheated camp oven. Within a few minutes it turns:

Dark brown–oven is very hot 240-300˚C [465-570˚F]
Light brown–oven is hot 220-230˚C [425-440˚F]
Yellow–oven is moderate 180-190˚C [355-375˚F]
Pale–oven is slow 120˚C [250˚F]”

— Viv Moon - Viv Moon's Outdoor Cookbook, 2002

Hope this helps.

VHD T-Shirt

Vintage Hiking Depot. T-shirt

These just in, fresh from the screen. Introducing, the Vintage Hiking Depot. t-shirt. Proudly printed right here in Portland, Maine by Max at Inner Sense Printing. Screened on Gildan grey, heavyweight t-shirts. These have a double hit of plastisol on the front in 'VHD Cream' and a single hit for the inside detail.

These were created with love, all proceeds go back into the VHD. If you're interested in supporting the VHD these t-shirts can be yours for $20 + $5 postage and packaging within the USA. If you are overseas this might be a little more so email me for a final price.

If you are interested in purchasing a t-shirt please visit my store here

The Leatherman

The Leatherman

This is one of those great stories, a piece of American folklore that intrigues and mystifies. It is a tale about a mysterious character called "The Leatherman" – a man who roamed the countryside in the mid 1800s. He wore a homemade suit constructed from the leather uppers of old boots with a matching leather hat and scarf, he rarely spoke but when when he did French appeared to be his first language. He spent a great many years traveling around New York, Massachusetts and Vermont before settling into a 365 mile loop around Connecticut and the Hudson River, which he completed every 34 days like clockwork. The Leatherman slept in caves where he stored supplies. He grew plants around his caves, foraged and picked up  any supplies he needed from the towns along the way. His strict routine and odd look made him a familiar face along his route; newspapers even commented on his comings and goings. People were not afraid of The Leatherman and offered him aid where they could (although he never asked for it) and he came and went as his schedule dictated.

The Leatherman walked this same route for 6 years until he passed away on March 20, 1889 in Mt. Pleasant, New York. It is believed that he died from cancer and there are stories of him escaping forced hospitalization in order to return to his routine. He was such a well known character even the New York Times documented (rather imaginatively) his passing.

His body was buried in Sparta Cemetery on Route 9 in Scarborough, New York. The headstone read "FINAL RESTING PLACE OFJules Bourglay OF LYONS, FRANCE "THE LEATHER MAN" who regularly walked a 365 mile route through Westchester and Connecticut from the Connecticut River to the Hudson living in caves in the years 1858–1889."  However, much of this epitaph was misinformed. His name was often reported as Jules Bourglay, but this and his apparent French origins we're based on an article written by the Waterbury Daily American in 1884,an article which they retracted.

In October 2010, the Westchester County Supreme Court granted permission to the Ossining Historical Society to exhume the Leatherman's body. They had controversially petitioned to get the Leatherman moved to "a safer and more dignified setting". They also planned to test the DNA of any remains found. However, the tale of The Leatherman took a final twist. When the grave was uncovered, all that was found was dirt and a few nails, no human remains. Nonetheless, the contents of the original grave were moved to the new site and a proper burial took place. The new resting place is marked by a headstone that simply says "The Leatherman."

So what is it about this story that people love? There is often a certain romance that comes with the story of a lone wanderer, a person striking out on their own in to the wilderness. But for me it's the mystique, who was the Leatherman? why did he choose walk that specific route? The lack of hard facts allows your imagination to take over. Was he a lonely, heart-broken soul. Was he just a very private person who loved the outdoors. There is so much that will never be answered, and so much for our minds to fill in, thus creating our own vision of what and who The Leatherman was.

I have been trying to write this article for about three months, trying to separate the fanciful from the factual. I've done my best to present The Leatherman in his true form but if I have missed anything please let me know.

VHD Poster Pt. 4

VHD Poster#4 - Victorinox Knife

The fourth VHD poster. Please feel free to share, pass on, pin, tweet whatever you think. As always I would love any feedback. This may be my favorite so far. One more to go.

Update: The posters have arrived and are available for purchase here

Rice's Half Shelter Tent

Rice's Half Shelter Tent

Packing multi use items is one of the corner stones of the ultralight backpacking philosophy, but this is by no means a new phenomena. One of my favorite historic examples of this idea is Rice's Half Shelter Tent designed by Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund Rice, a U.S. Army officer and Civil War veteran, in 1896. His shelter was carried by two soldiers;  who had one identical half each.

Rice's Half Shelter Tent Assembled

When put together it formed a two person tent and when dismantled it could be worn as a cape by each soldier, or in fair weather it could be rolled into a knapsack for the soldiers blanket using the new 'guy line strap'. Genius. I love it for its simplicity, functionality and robustness. All the things that good kit should be.

Rice was quite the inventor also developing his Trowel Bayonet, another great multi use item.

You can still lookup Rice's original patent.

Walt Whitman - Song of the Open Road

Walt Whitman

I'm a little embarrassed it has taken me this long to quote Walt Whitman, this is an excerpt is from "Song of the open Road" self published in Leaves of Grass, 1855. What an opening, it perfectly captures the giddy expectations and desires one gets when embarking on a grand journey. Enjoy.

“Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune, Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, Strong and content I travel the open road.”

— Walt Whitman - Song of the Open Road, 1855

You can find the complete song here.

Tips from the Archive #003

Dennis Look - Joy Of Backpacking, 1976 

A great tip from Dennis Look's "Joy of Backpacking," this is a superb book written in 1976. Look is a passionate writer he cares deeply about the wilderness and everything in this book puts the environment first. The book is still as relevant as it was in the 70's.

Tip 003 – Your Parka Works as a Day Pack.

“Have you ever been on a backpacking trip and wanted to take a short day hike? But where will you carry your gorp, water and rain or wind parka? If you didn’t carry a knapsack or hip pack (which most people don’t – too heavy), then it’s rather difficult to hold these items in your hands, or put them in your pocket. Here is one solution

First of all, some type of parka or jacket is required

Lay the parka out on the ground and start stuffing the items you wish to carry inside

When this is completed, zip up the parka, then close the draw cord on the bottom of the parka (this will prevent the items falling out). If your parka has a draw cord on the hood, then do the same

Roll the bottom of the parka over the items which you have placed inside. Make this roll as tight as possible and bind it with the draw cord from the bottom of the parka

Take the sleeves and wrap them around your waste then tie then with a square knot. If your parka is made of nylon this not will prevent it from slipping

Now you have a hip or fanny pack for your trip

One question: What do you do if you have to put your parka on? (stuff the items in the parka’s pockets)”

— Dennis Look - Joy Of Backpacking, 1976

Harvey Manning's 1972 Gear List

Harvey Manning - Backpacking One Step at a Time, 1972

It doesn't get better than this. From "Backpacking One Step at a Time" one of the all-time great hiking book, written by one one of the all-time great hikers.

“The following list is limited to basics and does not include the myriad nice little items like binoculars, candles, pliers, reading material, playing cards, booze, and the hundred other things individuals may come to consider indispensable for safety or pleasure.

Day Trip

Boots Socks Underwear Shirts and sweaters Parka Trousers or knickers (Shorts) Headwear Rucksack (Child Carrier) (Canteen) Food (Sunglasses) Knife Matches, firestarter First aid kit Flashlight Map and compass (Sunburn lotion) (Insect repellent)

Add for Overnight

Packframe and bag Sleeping bag Sleeping pad Ground sheet (Air mattress) Tarp or tent and accessories (Grate) Stove and accessories Cooking pots and accessories Eating utensils Food container Repair kit Toilet articles

Add for Special Situation

(Gaitors) (Poncho) (Down vest or sweater) (Rain pants) (Mittens) (Ice ax) (Hiking rope) (Snowshoes) (Cross-country skis)”

— Harvey Manning - Backpacking One Step at a Time, 1972

Parks Canada Logo

Roderick Huggins' - Parks Canada Logo

I think that the Parks Canada logo has just taken the lead as my favourite logo design used by a government body. This charming mark was designed in the 1970's by Roderick Huggins the cute little fellow has been stealing the hearts of visitors ever since.

Parks Canada's updated logo

I came across the newer version when I recently visited Fundy National park. It might not have authority, the stopping power, or official look of a government body but I think it sets a simple and innocent tone, I imagine kids love this logo and anything that engages young generations in the outdoors is a winner for me.